The Awards

About The Emerging Talent Award in Fashion Design and Accessory Design

The Emerging Talent Awards for Fashion Design and Accessory Design are the only CAFA Award categories eligible for self nomination. These two Awards will be presented to innovative Canadian designers who are emerging as true creative forces in Canadian fashion. Each Emerging Talent Award winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 and gain national and international exposure and recognition.

Eligibility for Fashion Design

Participation is open to all Canadian designers with no more than five (5) years of professional industry experience and who have designed a minimum of two (2) collections. Your business must be based in Canada.

Eligibility for Accessory Design

Participation is open to all Canadian designers with no more than five (5) years of professional industry experience and who have designed a minimum of two (2) collections. Your business must be based in Canada. Accessory designs include but are not limited to Jewellery, Handbags and Shoes.

Jury

A jury comprised of influential members of the Canadian arts and fashion community including representatives from top art and design schools, fashion publications, and fashion retailers will review all valid entries. Jurors will select the Emerging Talent Award winners based on originality, creativity and commercial viability.

Submission requirements

To be eligible for consideration, designers must submit:

A cover letter that serves as an introduction

A page on why you should be the 2015 Emerging Talent Award winner

A digital copy of your current look book or a portfolio of runway shots *

A business plan that includes a suggested retail price list

A list of locations where your designs are currently sold

A Professional or Academic reference letter (PDF)

* Please submit as high-resolution PDF files at 300 dpi with each file no larger than 20MB

Submission Process

Submissions must be received online (see link below) by 5:00 pm EST on Monday, September 15th, 2014. Late entries will not be accepted. A confirmation of submission receipt will be emailed to all entrants. Entrants selected as official nominees will be notified by Oct 17, 2014. Official nominees and their designs will be featured online at www.cafawards.ca and also on-site at the CAFA Gala and Awards Presentation.